The release of two new working papers, one from the World Bank and the other from the IMF, has led to a renewed debate on poverty in India.
A substantial decline in extreme poverty in India
Both papers claim that extreme poverty in the country, based on the international definition of $1.90 per capita per day (in purchasing power parity (PPP), has declined substantially.
The World Bank paper uses the Consumer Pyramid Household Surveys (CPHS) data to conclude that 10.2 per cent of the countryâs population was at extreme poverty levels in 2019.
The IMF paper calculates poverty by using the NSO Consumer Expenditure Survey as the base and adjusts it for the direct effect of the massive food grain subsidy given under the National Food Security Act (NFSA, 2013) and PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the pandemic period.
It claims that extreme poverty has almost vanished â it was 0.77 per cent in 2019 and 0.86 per cent in 2020.
Another estimate of poverty by the NITI Aayog, the multi-dimensional poverty index (MPI), has put Indian poverty at 25 per cent in 2015 based on NFHS data.
How MPI is calculated?: This MPI is calculated using twelve key components from areas such as health and nutrition, education and standard of living.
How much should be the coverage under NFSA, 2013?
The offtake of grains under NFSA in FY20 was 56.1 million metric tonnes (MMT).
Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in April 2020 to distribute 25 kg cereals per family per month in addition to food transfers under the NFSA.
 That catapulted the offtake to 87.5 MMT (under PMGKAY and NFSA) in FY21.
The scheme continued in FY22, and the grain offtake touched 93.2 MMT.Â
Issues with the wide coverage
A further extension of free food on top of the NFSA allocations was uncalled for.
This will strain the fisc, reduce public investments and hamper potential job creation.
A look at the size of food freebies will help understand the gravity of this problem.
As of April 1, the Food Corporation of Indiaâs wheat and rice stocks stood at 74 MMT against a buffer stock norm of 21 MMT â there is, therefore, an âexcess stockâ of 53 MMT.Â
The cost of excess stock: The economic cost of rice, as given by FCI, is Rs 3,7267.6/tonne and that of wheat is Rs 2,6838.4/tonne (2020/21).
The value of âexcess stocksâ, beyond the buffer norm, is, therefore, Rs 1.85 lakh crore â this, despite a total of 72.2 MMT grains distributed for free under the PMGKAY in FY21 and FY22.
Ballooning food subsidy: All this results in a ballooning food subsidy for FY 23, it is provisioned at Rs 2.06 lakh crore, for FY 23, it is provisioned at Rs 2.06 lakh crore.
But this amount is likely to go beyond Rs 2.8 lakh crore with the continuing distribution of free food under the PMGKAY.
This would amount to more than 10 per cent of the Centreâs net tax revenue (after deducting the statesâ share).
Way forward
It is all the more important to change the current policy of free food given the massive leakages in the PDS.
As per the High-Level Committee on restructuring FCI, leakages were more than 40 per cent based on the NSSO data of 2011.
Ground reports suggest that these leakages hover around 30 per cent or so today.
Make PDS more targeted: In reforming this system of free food, wisdom lies in going back to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
Under AAy, the âantyodayaâ households (the most poor category) get more rations (35 kg per household) at a higher subsidy (rice, for instance, at Rs 3/kg and wheat at Rs2/kg).
For the remaining below poverty line (BPL) families, the price charged was 50 per cent of the procurement price and for above poverty line families (APL), it was 90 per cent of the procurement price.
 This will make PDS more targeted and lead to cost savings.
Use of technology: There could be some problems in identifying the poor. However, technology can help overcome this difficulty.
Option of cash transfer: This measure should be combined with giving people the option of receiving cash instead of providing grains to targeted beneficiaries.
The savings so generated from this reform can be ploughed back as investments in agri-R&D, rural infrastructure (irrigation, roads, markets) and innovations that will help create more jobs and reduce poverty on a sustainable basis.
Conclusion
The government needs to bite the bullet and emulate the Vajpayee government (which had introduced AAY) in using scarce resources more wisely.
Since its inception, UPSC-CSE has had toppers from various academic and socio-economic backgrounds who have cracked the exam with flying colours. Itâs clear that one doesnât have to go to Delhi or a coaching centre to crack UPSC-CSE.
If education, geographical and economic background doesnât matter, then what does? Attitude, or precisely consistency. If you are persistent and adamant to clear UPSC- CSE and have given more than two attempts till now, then you must replace that with consistency. Because, being persistent might lead you to the door, but itâs consistency that unlocks it.
In last monthâs Samanvaya 1-on-1 counselling sessions, our expert Civilsdaily mentors reached out to aspirants to address their concerns regarding UPSC-CSE preparation. These are the responses they often heard from them â
How do I start preparing after a gap of 3-4 months?
Itâs easy for me to maintain consistency in GS Preparation but not Revision
I study daily, but can only remain focused for 2-3 hours. How do I improve?
My long working hours donât allow me to study daily.
Why am I losing interest in completing a subject? Itâ s easier to read a new subject everyday.
This week, we have decided to answer all these questions and take additional questions in our personalised & motivational counselling session.
Key-Takeaways from This Weekâs Samanvaya, Free 1-on-1 Counselling Session?
If you want to experience the same mentorship as Rishab Sharma, then hereâs the good news â your first UPSC mentorship is on us and is absolutely free! All you have to do is confirm your slot now.
This prompted us to reach out to one of our students who is currently an IPS officer, Rishabh Sharma. He cleared the exam in 2020 with AIR 454. After his first attempt, Rishabh had enrolled in Smash Mains program underSajal sir and also attended our free interview program. Cracking the mighty UPSC-CSE the second time, Rishabh explains what consistency means to him â
UPSC doesnât just test your intellect. It tests your patience, mental strength, your emotions, the very character of yours . As far as the journey of CSE is concerned you might know when to start, but you never know when the journey will come to an end. So be consistent and enjoy the journey.
Every topper follows a plan, a method or strategy that makes it easier for them to study on a daily basis and complete the traget modules of the day. In this free live counselling session, we will explain the many ways you can do to avoid faltering on your preparation.
1. The difference between a consistent study pattern v/s an inconsistent one. How UPSC-CSE becomes easier over time with consistency?
2. Social media distraction. How to avoid spending long hours on social media?
3. Number of ideal breaks everyday. Why is it necessary to reward yourself with a short break from time to time?
4. Best way to plan your timetable in advance? Why daily timetable should not be rigid but yearly timetable should be well defined?
5. How to remain consistent when you are not opting for coaching?
6. What are the practical methods to maintain regularity in studies. Tips to sustain the fire and passion for studies.
7. Why using Public Libraries is a way to remain consistent in UPSC-CSE preparation?
8. What are the 4 factors that determine if you can remain consistent for a year? If not, then why should you work on them first before starting UPSC-CSE preparation?
Get Motivated to Maintain Overall Consistency for UPSC
Itâs understandable we are humans and not programmable robots who can maintain the same level of interest everyday. However, maintaining an overall consistency throughout our preparation is neccessary to clear this competitive and vast exam.
Our philosophy behind MENTORSHIP is to get you out of this Snooze cycle. This ensures that you are the BEST VERSION of yourself in this journey. If you are under the impression that mentorship is weekly calls you attend, then you are mistaken, my friend. Trust us, your mentor will be your âFRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDEâ.
TO EACH THEIR OWN â Every aspirant is different. Their strengths and weaknesses are different. Their time availability is also different. Identifying this is important so you donât end up making unrealistic targets and lose momentum. Your mentor will make sure you start slow but remain consistent to build your confidence. Making your schedule structured based on our experience of working with 2500+ students is our first priority.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS â When you see yourself grow, it becomes easier to motivate yourself to push boundaries. Tracking your progress can happen in many ways like mentorship calls or chat sessions or by regular tests. The idea is to ensure that you donât go off track in your preparation, and even if you do, we have your back.
EVOLUTION â A constant guidance is important to bring consistency to your UPSC preparation. Guidance is not about clearing your doubts or asking you to study when you donât. It is also about the evolution of your preparation. This is where you and your mentor work as a team. A constant effort to PLAN AND BUILD UP YOUR ABILITY to learn in a faster and more efficient way.
TALK IT OUT â The biggest hurdle in achieving your highest level of consistency is the emotional part. Every now and then, you. surround yourself with negative thoughts, you feel scared and depressed. Instead of resolving these emotional issues, you avoid them as it seems like a waste of your precious time. You have to understand that ignoring emotional troubles does not solve them. What your doing is building an emotional time bomb that may burst a week before your mains or prelims! This is where your MENTOR AS A FRIEND comes in. All our mentors have been through this journey. We understand your fears and anxieties. So, TALK IT OUT.
Donât let inconsistency keep you away from your dreams.
Fill up the SAMANVAYA form given below. Let us know your problems and we will find a solution to it, just like our students say â TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILLâ. BOOK YOUR SLOT FOR YOUR FREE 1-0N-1 COUNSELLING SESSION IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS
How has Civilsdaily Mentorship, helped Aspirants become Toppers?
The most difficult challenge faced by EVERY candidate is inconsistency. Be it inconsistency in studies, answer-writing practice, covering the syllabus, or revision, every candidate finds it difficult to cope with. Buthow do successful candidates manage to FIGHT Inconsistency so consistently?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student.
A very recent success story would be Vishwa Shah, student of Civilsdaily Mentor, Sukanya Maâam. Vishwa has cleared the GPSC exam to become the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Gujarat. He has penned a thank-you note yesterday. Heartiest Congratulations to Vishwa!
One of our other Civilsdaily Student, Shubham Nagargojecleared the exams in 2020 to become an IPS Officer. Shubham was gracious enough to let us know how he felt about Civilsdaily Samanvaya Guidance under Parth sir.
To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation.
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Maâam were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last weekâs performance and next weekâs approach.
Be it Telegram, Whatsapp or Habitiat channels, they are always available and clear studentâs doubts in a turnaround time of 24 Hours.
Why Civilsdaily Mentors are the GPS for Your UPSC-CSE Preparation
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentorsâ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we donât get confident by the previous yearsâ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.REGISTER HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST FREE SAMANVAYA COUNSELLING SESSION IN NEXT 24 HOURS
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasnât confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelimsâ and 110+ in mainsâ papers.
In Smritiâs own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be â
âOur parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I wonât be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. Thatâs when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end mentorship via value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.â
Similarly our another Civilsdaily student, Ashishsums up his Samanvaya experience with Civilsdaily mentor,Pravin Sir, âBecause of Pravin sirâs support, I am able to understand a topic in lesser time.â
This is how Pravin sir evaluates Ashishâs Mains Test Series every week. After every test series evaluation, Pravin sir schedules a 1 hour call to discuss how Ashish can improve his marks and the sources he can refer for key topics.
Itâs Your Turn Get the Free 40 Min Counselling Session By a CD Mentor
Civilsdaily mentors are so dedicated, consistent and focused for your UPSC goal, that you will eventually become focused into turning your dreams to reality.
At the core of Civilsdaily UPSC mentorship, lies the fact that each one of you will have a unique journey while preparing for the exam. Some will get through on the first attempt without much effort while others will take both more time and more effort.
We want to understand you better to help you optimize your journey so you can focus on the right things and not waste time on the wrong ones. We are asking you to tap into the valuable experiences of mentors who underwent the same grind and realize the pitfalls and understand the shortcuts to make it.
In the first counselling session, we will understand your weaknesses. We then help you to stick to one plan or strategy throughout your preparation. We will then follow up with you on a daily basis to check if you are right on track. TALK TO OUR MENTORS & CLARIFY YOUR DOUBTS NOW
As Mahatma Gandhiâs nation, India must be a committed and relentless apostle of peace and non-violence, both at home and in the world.
How the Russia-Ukraine conflict is reshaping the world order
Ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a paradigm of free societies, frictionless borders and open economies evolved to be the governing order in many nations.
This catalysed freer movement of people, goods, services and capital across the world.
India too has benefited enormously from being an active participant in this interconnected world, with a tripling of trade (as share of GDP) in the last three decades and providing vast numbers of jobs.
Such tight inter-dependence among nations will lead to fewer conflicts and promote peace, was the established wisdom.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has dismantled this wisdom.
Mutually beneficial to mutually harmful: If inter-connectedness and trade among nations were mutually beneficial, then it follows that its disruption and blockade will be mutually harmful.
Global Village was built on the foundation of advanced transportation networks, cemented with the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency and fenced by integrated payment systems.
Any disruption to this delicate balance runs the risk of plunging the âGlobal Villageâ into disequilibrium and derailing the lives of all.
Trade opportunity for India
Trade with other nations should and will always be an integral cornerstone of Indiaâs economic future.
A reversal towards isolationism and protectionism will be foolhardy and calamitous for India.
As the western bloc of nations looks to reduce dependence on the Russia-China bloc of nations, it presents newer avenues for India to expand trade.
It presents a tremendous opportunity for India to become a large producing nation for the world and a global economic powerhouse.
However, to capitalise on these opportunities, India needs free access to these markets, an accepted and established global currency to trade in and seamless trade settlements.
Suggestions for India
1] Bilateral currency agreements are unsustainable
The American dollar has emerged as the global trade currency, bestowing an âexorbitant privilegeâ on the dollar.
But a forced and hurried dismantling of this order and replacing it with rushed bilateral local currency arrangements can prove to be more detrimental for the global economy in the longer run.
We had an Indian rupee-Russian rouble agreement in the late 1970s and 1980s, when we mutually agreed on exchange rates for trading purposes.
Now, with Indiaâs robust external sector, a flourishing trading relationship with many nations and tremendous potential to expand trade, such bilateral arrangements are unsustainable, unwieldy, and perilous.
2] Avoid discounted commodity purchases from Russia
In the long run, India stands to gain more from unfettered access to the western bloc markets for Indian exports under the established trading order than from discounted commodities purchased under new bilateral currency arrangements that seek to create a new and parallel global trade structure.
It entails a prolonged departure from the established order of dollar-based trade settlement or jeopardises established trading relationships with western bloc markets, it can have longer term implications for Indiaâs export potential.
3] Non-disruptive geo-economic policy
India needs not just a non-aligned doctrine for the looming new world order but also a non-disruptive geo-economic policy that seeks to maintain the current global economic equilibrium.
 By the dint of its sheer size and scale, India can be both a large producer and a consumer.
To best utilise this opportunity, India needs not just cordial relationships with nations on either side of the new divide but also a stable and established global economic environment.
4] Social harmony is a must
Just as it is in Indiaâs best interests to balance the current geo-economic equilibrium, it is also imperative for India to maintain its domestic social equilibrium.
Social harmony is the edifice of economic prosperity.
Fanning mutual distrust, hate and anger among citizens, causing social disharmony is a shameful slide to perdition.
Conclusion
The reshaping and realignment of the world order will be a unique opportunity for India to reassess its foreign policy, economic policy and geo-political strategy and don the mantle of global leadership.
A 37-year-old Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court which held that pavement dwellers are different from trespassers. This may become a game-changer in the Jahangirpuri case.
What is the Olga Tellis judgment?
The judgment, Olga Tellis vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation, was given in 1985 by a five-judge Bench led by then Chief Justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud (F/O Justice D.Y Chandrachud).
It is agreed that pavement dwellers do occupy public spaces in an unauthorized manner.
Key takeaways of the Judgment
Opportunity to depart: The court maintained they should be given a chance to be heard and a reasonable opportunity to depart before force is used to expel them.
No use of force: The Supreme Court reasoned that eviction using unreasonable force, without giving them a chance to explain is unconstitutional.
Right to life: Pavement dwellers, too, have a right to life and dignity. The right to life included the right to livelihood. They earn a meagre livelihood by living and working on the footpaths.
No misuse of powers of eviction: A welfare state and its authorities should not use its powers of eviction as a means to deprive pavement dwellers of their livelihood.
What led to the judgment?
Sometime in 1981, the State of Maharashtra and the Bombay Municipal Corporation decided that pavement and slum dwellers in Bombay city should be evicted and âdeported to their respective places of origin or places outside the city of Bombay.â
Some demolitions were carried out before the case was brought to the Bombay High Court by pavement dwellers, residents of slums across the city, NGOs and journalists.
While they conceded that they did not have âany fundamental right to put up huts on pavements or public roadsâ, the case came up before the Supreme Court on larger questions of law.
What were the questions discussed before the Supreme Court?
One of the main questions was whether eviction of a pavement dweller would amount to depriving him/her of their livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Article mandates that âno person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty EXCEPTaccording to procedure established by law.â
The Constitution Bench was also asked to determine if provisions in the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, allowing the removal of encroachments without prior notice, were arbitrary and unreasonable.
The Supreme Court also decided to examine the question whether it was constitutionally impermissible to characterise pavement dwellers as trespassers.
What was the State governmentâs defence?
The State government and the corporation countered that pavement dwellers should be estopped (estoppel is a judicial device whereby a court may prevent or âestopâ a person from making assertions.
Estoppel may prevent someone from bringing a particular claim from contending that the shacks constructed by them on the pavements cannot be demolished because of their right to livelihood.
They cannot claim any fundamental right to encroach and put up huts on pavements or public roads over which the public has a âright of way.â
How did the Supreme Court rule?
The Bench threw out the governmentâs argument of estoppel, saying âthere can be no estoppel against the Constitution.â
The court held that the right to life of pavement dwellers were at stake here.
The right to livelihood was an âintegral componentâ of the right to life. They can come to court to assert their right.
If the right to livelihood is not treated as a part of the constitutional right to live, the easiest way of depriving a person of his right to life would be to deprive him of his means of livelihood to the point of abrogation.
Any aggrieved person can challenge the deprivation as offending the right to life.
Removal of encroachments without prior notice was arbitrary; the court held that such powers are designed to operate as an âexceptionâ and not the âgeneral rule.â
The procedure of eviction should lean in favour of procedural safeguards which follow the natural principles of justice like giving the other side an opportunity to be heard.
Finally, the court emphatically objected to authorities treating pavement dwellers as mere trespassers.
The encroachment committed are involuntary acts in the sense that those acts are compelled by inevitable circumstances and are not guided by choice.
Way ahead
It is not a free choice to exercise as to whether to commit an encroachment and if so, where.
Trespassers should not be evicted by using force greater than what is reasonable and appropriate.
He/she should be asked and given a reasonable opportunity to depart before force is used to expel him.
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that there was a need to amend the anti-defection legislation in the country to plug existing loopholes.
What did VP notice now?
Stating that there was no clarity in the law about the time frame for the action of the House Chairperson or Speaker in anti-defection cases.
Some cases are taking six months and some even three years.
There are cases that are disposed of after the term is over.
What is Anti-defection Law?
The Anti-Defection Law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution punishes MPs/ MLAs for defecting from their party by taking away their membership of the legislature.
It gives the Speaker of the legislature the power to decide the outcome of defection proceedings.
It was added to the Constitution through the Fifty-Second (Amendment) Act, 1985 when Rajiv Gandhi was PM.
The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
Cases considered under the anti-defection law
The law covers three scenarios with respect to shifting of political parties by an MP or an MLA.
(1) Voluntary give-up
The first is when a member elected on the ticket of a political party âvoluntarily gives upâ membership of such a party or votes in the House against the wishes of the party.
Such persons lose his seat.
(2) Independent members
When a legislator who has won his or her seat as an independent candidate joins a political party after the election.
In both these instances, the legislator loses the seat in the legislature on changing (or joining) a party.
(3) Nominated MPs
In their case, the law gives them six months to join a political party, after being nominated.
If they join a party after such time, they stand to lose their seat in the House.
Powers to disqualification
Under the anti-defection law, the power to decide the disqualification of an MP or MLA rests with the presiding officer of the legislature.
The law does not specify a time frame in which such a decision has to be made.
As a result, Speakers of legislatures have sometimes acted very quickly or have delayed the decision for years â and have been accused of political bias in both situations.
Significant role of the Speaker/Presiding Officer
Pandit Nehru had referred to the Speaker as âthe symbol of the nationâs freedom and libertyâ and emphasized that Speakers should be men of âoutstanding ability and impartialityâ.
Several judgments on the anti-defection law have been rendered by the Supreme Court.
A common factor that shows up in these rulings is the blatant, partisan conduct of speakers in state assemblies.
Reasons for Speakersâ ambiguous action
The Speaker continues to belong to a particular political party.
The electoral system and conventions in India have ânot been developed to ensure protection to the office, there are cogent reasons for Speakers to retain party membership.
It would be unrealistic to expect a speaker to completely abjure all party considerations while functioning.
There are structural issues regarding the manner of appointment of the Speaker and her tenure in office.
Way forward
Parliament may seriously consider a Constitutional amendment to bring in a permanent Tribunal for dealing with defection cases.
It is suggested that a scheme should be brought wherein Speakers should renounce all political affiliations, membership, and activity once they have been elected.
We can learn from the UK model. In practice, once elected, the Speaker gives up all-partisan affiliation, as in other Parliaments of British tradition.
He/she remains in office until retirement, even though the majority may change and does not express any political views during debates.
Conclusion
Impartiality, fairness, and autonomy in decision-making are the hallmarks of a robust institution.
It is the freedom from interference and pressures which provide the necessary atmosphere where one can work with an absolute commitment to the cause of neutrality as a constitutional value.
Communal violence, a complex phenomenon, has been over-simplified to suit a convenient political narrative.
India’s syncretic traditions and impact of invasions
For aeons, India has had syncretic traditions inspired by the Vedic aphorism, âEkam sad vipra bahudha vadantiâ (there is only one truth and learned persons call it by many names).
 Because of this underpinning, Indian society has never insisted on uniformity in any facet of life.
This equanimity of Indian society was, however, disrupted by invading creeds.
The first such incursion came in 712, when Muhammad bin Qasim vanquished Sindh, and as Chach Nama, a contemporary Arab chronicle states, introduced the practice of treating local Hindus as zimmis, forcing them to pay jizya (a poll tax), as a penalty to live by their beliefs.
In the 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni, while receiving the caliphate honours on his accession to the throne, took a vow to wage jihad every year against Indian idolaters.
The fact is, ties between the two communities were seldom cordial.
There were intermittent skirmishes, wars and occasional short-lived opportunistic alliances.
When Pakistan declared itself an Islamic Republic in 1947, it would have been natural for India to identify itself as a Hindu state.
It didnât, and couldnât have â because of its Hindu ethos of pluralism.
India, is, and will always be, catholic, plural, myriad and a vibrant democracy.
Conclusion
Itâs relevant to recall what Lester Pearson (14th PM of Canada) said: âMisunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear, and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace.â
Retired Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna has said that there is a blatant misuse of rape laws in the country.
What did Justice BN Srikrishna say?
Lesser convictions: Statistics show that even after the amendment of rape laws, there have been less number of convictions.
Need for objective analysis: It is time that rape cases be looked at in a very objective manner.
Authencity of womenâs claims needs to be checked: We need to question â is the woman really subjected to cruelty and atrocities? Otherwise, in the general course of things, the accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty should apply.
Tilt of such laws is always against the men: However, in rape cases, whatever the woman says is treated as the gospel truth. But that is not the intention of the law. It is not the way to empower women.
Various laws for the protection of women
Various special laws relating to women include:
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
 Alleged rape cases these days
False accusations: Justice BN Srikrishna said that, sometimes some innocent men are being falsely accused of rape and later getting acquitted.
Consensual sex is later cried as rape: There are many cases either in a consensual relationship or in co-habitation for a long time, there is a disagreement and the woman cries rape.
Tool to preserve honour: There are instances where a secret affair is going on, people get to know of it and in order to come out of the ignominy of it, she cries rape, Justice Srikrishna said.
Issues with such alleged rape cases
Whenever the man is accused of rape, he gets arrested, newspapers carry it on the front page.
But when there is an acquittal, it is not carried in the same way. This is terrible.
The balance is always tilted in favour of women in such cases.
Various sexual crimes in India
Sexual Abuse/ Molestation/ Rape: Rape is one of the most common crimes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, one woman is raped every 20 minutes in India.
Marital Crimes: In India, marital rape is not a criminal offense. Â India is one of fifty countries that have not yet outlawed marital rape.
Forced Marriage: Girls are vulnerable to being forced into marriage at young ages, suffering from a double vulnerability: both for being a child and for being female.
Trafficking and forced prostitution: Human trafficking, especially of girls and women, often leads to forced prostitution and sexual slavery.
Online abuse: Women are regularly subject to online rape threats, online harassment, cyber-stalking, blackmail, trolling, slut-shaming and more.
Harassment at the workplace: Sexual harassment at workplace, mostly comprising of indecent remarks, unwanted touches, demands for sex, and the dissemination of pornography.
Various initiative to protect women
The Government has taken a number of initiatives for the safety of women and girls, which are given below:
Nirbhaya Fund for projects for the safety and security of women
One-Stop Centre Scheme to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof
Online analytic tool for police called âInvestigation Tracking System for Sexual Offencesâ to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018.
National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies.
Way ahead
Breaking the cycle of abuse will require concerted collaboration and action between governmental and non-governmental actors including educators, health-care authorities, legislators, the judiciary and the mass media.
Gender-based violence, an especially violent crime like rape, is a multifaceted problem.
Although the incorporation of stringent laws and stricter punishments are important to deter people from committing such crimes, the solution to this is much more than just promulgation.
Education of both men and women will lead to change in attitudes and perceptions.
It is a mammoth task. We are just doing bits and pieces. A way ahead is obscure but in our sphere with concrete and pronounced steps.
The annual Raisina Dialogue in Delhi held this year by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will host intelligence agency chiefs of several countries.
What is the conference about?
The conference is modelled on the lines of the annual Munich Security Conference and Singaporeâs Shangri-La dialogue.
It is expected to bring together heads and deputy heads of the top intelligence and security organisations from more than 20 â mostly Western countries and their allies.
Intelligence chiefs and deputies from Australia, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand are among those expected to attend the conference.
The meet is held on the sidelines of the âFive eyes allianceâ of the U.S., U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Australia, who coordinate on terrorism and security issues.
What is the Five Eyes Alliance?
The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
These countries are parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence.
The origins of the FVEY can be traced to informal secret meetings during World War II between British and American code-breakers.
It was started before the US formally entered the war, followed by the Allies’ 1941 Atlantic Charter that established their vision of the post-war world.
Back2Basics: Munich Security Conference
The Munich Security Conference is an annual conference on international security policy that has been held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany since 1963.
It brings together heads of state, diplomats and business leaders from the worldâs leading democracies for three days of meetings and presentations.
It is the worldâs largest gathering of its kind.
Over the past four decades the MSC has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers.
The All-India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey, usually conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) every five years, is set to resume this year after a prolonged break.
What is the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES)?
The CES is traditionally a quinquennial (recurring every five years) survey conducted by the governmentâs National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
It is designed to collect information on the consumer spending patterns of households across the country, both urban and rural.
Typically, the Survey is conducted between July and June and this yearâs exercise is expected to be completed by June 2023.
Utility of the survey
The data gathered in this exercise reveals the average expenditure on goods (food and non-food) and services.
It helps generate estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) as well as the distribution of households and persons over the MPCE classes.
It is used to arrive at estimates of poverty levels in different parts of the country and to review economic indicators such as the GDP, since 2011-12.
Why need this survey?
India has not had any official estimates on per capita household spending.
It provides separate data sets for rural and urban parts, and also splice spending patterns for each State and Union Territory, as well as different socio-economic groups.
What about the previous survey?
The survey was last held in 2017-2018.
The government announced that it had data quality issues.
Recently, Microsoft said that it had disrupted cyberattacks from a Russian nation-state hacking group called âStrontiumâ.
What is Strontium?
Strontium, also known as Fancy Bear, Tsar Team, Pawn Storm, Sofacy, Sednit or Advanced Persistent Threat 28 (APT28) group, is a highly active and prolific cyber-espionage group.
It is one of the most active APT groups and has been operating since at least the mid-2000s, making it one of the worldâs oldest cyber-spy groups.
It has access to highly sophisticated tools to conduct spy operations, and has been attacking targets in the US, Europe, Central Asia and West Asia.
The group is said to be connected to the GRU, the Russian Armed Forcesâ main military intelligence wing.
The GRUâs cyber units are believed to have been responsible for several cyberattacks over the years and its unit 26165 is identified as Fancy Bear.
How does it attack networks?
The group deploys diverse malware and malicious tools to breach networks.
In the past, it has used X-Tunnel, SPLM (or CHOPSTICK and X-Agent), GAMEFISH and Zebrocy to attack targets.
These tools can be used as hooks in system drivers to access local passwords, and can track keystroke, mouse movements, and control webcam and USB drives.
APT28 uses spear-phishing (targeted campaigns to gain access to an individualâs account) and zero-day exploits (taking advantage of unknown computer-software vulnerabilities) to target specific individuals and organizations.
It has used spear-phishing and sometimes water-holing to steal information, such as account credentials, sensitive communications and documents.
A watering hole attack compromises a site that a targeted victim visits to gain access to the victim’s computer and network.
